User blog comment:Lathagarr Stormgale of Tronn/Debate/@comment-1399757-20101203181939/@comment-1145722-20101203210248

Another thing is, in 1 Corinthians 1:17 Paul is talking about the people he baptized and says that he cannot remember all of them, then he says, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel...." He's obviously marking a difference between baptism and the gospel.

Now spiritual baptism is vital for salvation. Cleansing your soul of your sin nature and accepting Christ as your Savior is the real baptism. Baptism with water is an outward showing that you are doing this. 1 Peter 3:21 says, "There is also an anti-type which now saves us - baptism. Not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." And anti-type is symbol or representation. Baptism of water is a representation of the spiritual baptism which is necessary for salvation.